Katinka Hosszu

Katinka Hosszu

Katinka Hosszu is a Hungarian Olympian and one of the most versatile swimmers in the world. Born May 3, 1989 Hosszu was born in Pécs, and refers to herself as the “Iron Lady”.

College (Southern California)

After graduating high school from III Bela Gymnazium, she competed collegiately in the U.S. for the University of Southern California. Hosszu graduted from USC in 2012, where she studied psychology. Hosszu was a force at both the conference and NCAA Championships, winning titles in both arenas. She swam in multiple events over her collegiate years, switching her championship events between the 500 freestyle, 400 IM, 200 butterfly, 200 IM and the 200 freestyle. She left the university obtaining numerous school records in events including the 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 butterfly.

Honda Sports Award and ESPN’s ESPY

Even though Hosszu was an immediate impact for the Trojan squad, she really broke out her junior year, when she was a three-time European Champion and won all three individual events at the NCAA Championships. That year she won the Honda Sports Award and was nominated for ESPN’s ESPY Awards for Best Female College Athlete.

International Competition

2004 Olympics
Hosszu made her first Olympic team in 2004, finishing 31st in the 200m freestyle. At the 2004 European Short Course Championships was the bronze medalist in the 400m IM and finished sixth in the 200m IM.

Early performances at the European Championships 

The following year she was fifth in the 400 IM and eighth in the 200m IM at the European Championships. In 2006 at the Long Course European Championships she was ninth in the 200m IM and fourth in the 400m IM at the Short Course Championships.

Katinka Hosszu  (photo: Mike Lewis) (photo: Mike Lewis)

2007 FINA World Championships (Melbourne, Australia)

In 2007 Hosszu qualified for the FINA World Championships, coming in 11th in the 400m IM and 12th in the 200m IM. In 2008 she had a successful European Championships – she picked up one of her first international medals finishing second in the 400m IM.

2008 Olympic Games (Beijing, China)

After being a member of eight Hungarian national teams, Hosszu swam in her second Olympic Games, which were held in Beijing. She finished 12th in the 400m IM and 17th in the 200m IM.

2009 FINA World Championships (Rome, Italy), Hungarian Female Athlete of the Year

Hosszu was named the Hungarian Female Athlete of the Year in 2009. She was selected for the award after winning a World Championship title in the 400m IM and bringing home two bronze medals in the 200m IM and 200m butterfly as well as her two NCAA medals won that year.

2012 Olympic Games (London, England)

In 2012 Hosszu qualified for her third Olympic Games, this time finishing 4th in the 400m IM, 8th in the 200m IM and 9th in the 200m butterfly together with her coach and husband, Shane Tusup. Her 4th-place finish was one of the lowest points in her career, but she used 2013 as a redemption. That same year she was a three-time European Champion in her signature three events.

2013 redemption

Coming off a disappointing London Olympics Hosszu came charging into 2013. She was once again named the Hungarian Female Athlete of the Year, was a two-time World Champion, broke six short course World Records, and repeated as the overall World Cup winner.

Female European Swimmer of the Year

2014 was a long season for Hosszu, competing all across the world at different competitions. She was named the Female European Swimmer of the Year after setting 17 Hungarian records that year alone.

2015 – Arena launches Katinka Hosszu’s Iron Lady Brand

Katinka Hosszu and Arena created a first class mini-collection of swim essentials that reflects this superlative athlete’s spirit and ethos: bold, fun, stylish and highly technical, the three-piece capsule collection is composed of a training swimsuit, a swim cap and a t-shirt in a distinctive, stand-out black, red and white palette.

The swimsuit features ‘Iron Lady’ graphic lettering all over in sparkling silver against a black background and is constructed in Arena’s ultra-durable and comfortable Max Life, a revolutionary swim fabric that ensures a perfect fit and unsurpassed performance. It is also exceptionally chlorine resistant which makes it the ideal suit for dedicated athletes who spend hours in the pool. The Light Drop back combines a sporty look with an enviable fit and a feminine, sophisticated feel as well as ensuring maximum control and freedom of movement.

2015 World Championships (Kazan, Russia)

Katinka Hosszu  (photo: Mike Lewis)

Still on a mission to redeem herself after the London Olympics Hosszu travelled to Kazan to compete at the 2015 World Championships. She broke her first World Record of the meet in the 200-meter IM, touching in 2:06.12, breaking a time set by the USA’s Ariana Kukors back in the super suit era. After scratching the 100-meter back final to focus on the 200 IM Hosszu attacked the race from the beginning, finishing her first 50 meters under World Record pace. She repeated as the 200-meter IM World Champion, and won her fourth World Championships medal.

In the longer IM event Hosszu was largely regarded as the favorite to win. After leading the entire race, Hosszu touched the wall in first, and beat her 2009 World Championships Meet Record and shaved more than two second off of her preliminary time. Hosszu paced the 400-meter IM well and was under World Record pace until the final 100 meters of the race.

Hosszu also won bronze in the 200-meter backstroke where she used her strong back-half to nearly chase down USA’s Missy Franklin who finished 2nd in the event. She also took on the 200-meter free, an event that was stacked with talent including USA’s distance phenom, Katie Ledecky. After taking the first 100 meters out with one of the fastest times in the final, Hosszu fell to 6th overall at the finish. The finish was so tight, however that only one and a half seconds separated the winner through 8th place.

2016 Rio Olympics (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

The Iron Lady dominated the heats of the 400M Individual Medley just missing the World Record. She is seated first going into the Finals four seconds ahead of second place finisher, Mirela Belmonte of Spain.

Hosszu lead the 400M Individual Medley Finals from start to finish shattering the World Record by two seconds to win Gold. Her 4:26.36 was also almost five seconds ahead Silver Medalist Maya DiRado of the US.

Hosszu made it 2 for 2 by winning gold in the 100M Backstroke. Her 58.45 was three tenths ahead of silver medalist, Kathleen Baker of the USA.

Three for three! Hosszu won the 200M Individual Medley setting a new Olympic Record with a time of 2:06.58, three tenths of a second ahead of second place finisher, Siobhan-Marie O’Connor of Great Britain.

Hosszu picked up her fourth medal of the games, her first silver, finishing second to Maya DiRado of the US by just six one hundredths of a second with a time of 2:06.05.

FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2016

In the 200M Free, Hosszu finished one half second behind Gold medalist, Federica Pellegrini to win the silver medal. Hosszu followed the 200 Free by winning the 400M Individual Medley, the same day, with a time of 4:21.67, easily out pacing the rest of the field by over six seconds.

Katinka Hosszu and her coach Shane Tusup, swim_cup_lausanne @ogehin

Katinka Hosszu Calls for Worldwide Pro Swimming Union – June 21st, 2017

In an open letter provided to SwimSwam, Hosszu says that “swimming is still not a professional sport,” and blames FINA, the world governing body for the sport, for that failure. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that FINA is in chaos,” Hosszu pens. “There is the lack of transparency in the financials, the constantly changing rules, and leaders with no vision. At first it may seem a bit scary, but this is the time for us, the swimmers, to do something about the future of our sport. We wouldn’t need to be pioneers; there are so many inspiring examples from other sports before us.”

Hosszu attacks what she views as FINA talking out of both sides of its mouth – on one hand, boasting of impossibly high viewership numbers approaching 7 billion, and on the other saying that there’s not more money to be shared with the athletes.

2017 FINA World Championships (Budapest, Hungary)

Katinka Hosszu 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary (photo: Mike Lewis)

On day two, as expected, Hosszu dominated the 200m IM in front of the home crowd, leading from start to finish with the 6th fastest time in history as she touched in 2:07.00 for her first gold medal of the meet.

Day five of competition, Hosszu won bronze in the women’s 200m butterfly final. Hosszu set a blistering pace on the front half, leading with a 1:00.41 at the 100-mark. Spanish Olympic Champion Mireia Belmonte made a comeback on the 3rd 50 and held off a fast 32.23 final split from Germany’s Franziska Hentke. At the finish, Belmonte got her hands to the wall first, touching in 2:05.26 to Hentke’s 2:05.39 to give the Spanish their first ever Worlds title in this event. Hosszu held on for 3rd in 2:06.02.

Day seven in the 200m backstroke final, Hosszu won silver behind Australia’s Emily Seebohm. Hosszu led with 50m to go on the final lap, and held on for silver with a new Hungarian National Record of her own in 2:05.85.

Day eight in the final of the 400m IM, Hosszu won another gold, posting a 4:29.33 for the win. Hosszu dominated the race, winning by nearly three seconds over Spain’s Mireia Belmonte, who won silver with a 4:32.17

2017 SCM European Championships (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Hosszu continued her dominance as she claimed six more European Championship titles in Copenhagen. She won all three IM and backstroke events. Her closest race was in the 50 backstroke when she beat Alicja Tchorz only by 0.14 seconds with the time of 25.95.

2018 European Championships (Glasgow, Scotland)

After having a less intensive year of racing, Katinka lightened her schedule at the 2018 Euros, swimming only the 100 back and 200 IM. Although she placed 4th in the 100 back, just outside of medals, she did successfully defend her 4-time title as the 200 IM European champion, making her the only woman to ever win 5 straight European titles in 1 event.

2018 Short Course World Championships (Hangzhou, China)

Hosszu won the gold medal in the 400 IM in Hangzhou (4:21.40), despite swimming nearly two seconds slower than her personal best (4:19.46 at the 2015 European Short Course Championships in Netanya, Isreal). Hosszu also won gold in the 200 butterfly, posting a time of 2:01.60. Hosszu finished fourth in the 200 backstroke (2:01.99), 1.28 seconds behind gold medalist Lisa Bratton and a half second (0.66) off the podium. Hosszu finished third in the 100 backstroke. On day 5, Hosszu won her 3rd title in a row in the 200 IM.

2019 FINA World Championships (Gwangju, South Korea)

Hosszu showed up strong in her first event of the meet, winning the women’s 200 IM in dominating fashion (2:07.53, 1.07 in front of 2nd place) to become the first woman ever to 4-peat a single event at the world championships. Hosszu swam in the final of the 200 back later in the meet, touching for 8th overall. But Hosszu finished strong, 4-peating again in the 400 IM in a time of 4:30.39.

2019 SCM European Championships (Glasgow, Scotland)

Katinka took the meet by force, claiming titles in the 100 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly, and finally the 200 IM. Her final win in the 200 IM marked her 20th gold medal all-time at the event (SC European Championships), making her the winningest female swimmer in its history. She took the record from Slovakia’s 5-time Olympian, Martina Moravcová.

2019 Swammy Awards

After her successful year in 2019, Hosszu earned the European Female Swimmer of the Year Swammy Award.